About the European Cuckoo

The European cuckoo is a medium-sized bird known for its distinctive call and unique breeding behavior. These migratory birds are found across Europe and Asia, spending winters in Africa. Cuckoos are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other bird species and leaving the host parents to raise their young. The female cuckoo has evolved to lay eggs that mimic those of its host species, increasing the chances of successful parasitism. Cuckoo chicks hatch earlier than the host's eggs and often push the other eggs or chicks out of the nest. Adult cuckoos feed primarily on insects, especially hairy caterpillars that other birds avoid. Despite their parasitic behavior, cuckoos play important roles in ecosystems by controlling insect populations. The distinctive 'cuck-oo' call of the male cuckoo is a traditional harbinger of spring in many European cultures.